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From the iron bridge to the Opera: Hanoi highlights

A walk through Hanoi's must-see sights: from the iron bridge over the Red River to the guild streets of the Old Quarter, from the lake Hanoians call the heart of their city to the boulevards of the French Quarter. One tip before you start: to cross through the motorbikes, walk at a calm, steady pace without running or stopping suddenly, keeping your eyes on the traffic; riders read your path and flow around you. Where there's a traffic light or a supervised crossing, use it.

  • 6 stops
  • 3.1 km
  • 2 h
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
The Turtle Tower on Hoàn Kiếm Lake in Hanoi, with the Central Post Office behind

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Long Biên BridgeAn iron bridge from 1902 that survived the bombing and, despite what you may hear, was not designed by Eiffel.
  2. 2 Đồng Xuân MarketThe Old Quarter's great covered market, built by the French in 1889 and rebuilt after a fire.
  3. 3 87 Mã Mây Ancient HouseA merchants' tube house, restored with help from Toulouse, that shows how people lived in the Old Quarter.
  4. 4 Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn TempleThe heart of Hanoi: a lake, a red bridge and a temple dedicated to letters and to an unbeatable general.
  5. 5 Hanoi Opera House (Nhà hát Lớn)A little Palais Garnier in the tropics, whose square launched the August Revolution of 1945.
  6. 6 National Museum of HistoryA building blending France and Asia, created for the school of Orientalists that uncovered ancient Vietnam.

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Start with GPS

Guide mode

Walk it with GPS.

Open guide mode on your phone: you’ll see your position and the distance to each stop, and we’ll let you know when you arrive. Then read or listen.

Start with GPS

  1. Turn on your location

  2. Walk to the spot

  3. Check the photo and listen

What you’ll discover

From the iron bridge to the Opera: Hanoi highlights

Two Hanois in one walk

The maze of guild streets in the Old Quarter and the boulevards of the French Quarter.

Stories behind the icons

Why Long Biên Bridge isn't Eiffel's work, and what happened outside the Opera House in 1945.

Neighbourhood life

A huge market, a traditional house open to visitors and the lake where the city exercises at dawn.

Keep exploring

More routes in Hanoi

Back to Hanoi
HistoryA thousand years of Thăng Long: from mandarin academy to Ba Đình Mysteries & legendsSacred turtles, a magic sword and jailbreaks: legendary Hanoi

Itineraries

How many days do you have in Hanoi?

We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.

1

Hanoi in 1 day

All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.

See the itinerary 2

Hanoi in 2 days

A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.

See the itinerary 3

Hanoi in 3 days

The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.

See the itinerary